Phillies Notes | Romero enjoys his role in pen

SAN DIEGO -

J.C. Romero

has pitched nine seasons in the majors, which makes him one of the freshest faces in a Phillies bullpen that lately has allowed manager

Charlie Manuel

to sleep a little easier.

There's Jose Mesa, 41, who made his big-league debut in 1987.

There's Tom Gordon, 39, who made his major-league debut in 1988.

There's Antonio Alfonseca, 35, who made his big-league debut in 1997.

"I'm the youngest one," Romero said with a laugh before last night's game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. "I'm very young compared with those guys. Flash is 39. Mesa is up there. Alfonseca is a question mark, but he's up there. I'm a very legit 31. I'm a young veteran. But the main goal with our bullpen is winning. We hope to start winning those one-run games we've been losing and hopefully get over the hump and make the playoffs."

The bullpen has been a source of concern and frustration for the Phillies' front office and coaching staff since the off-season, when they failed to acquire the arms they believed they needed. But the bullpen has pitched better recently, and Manuel said he liked the way it could look once closer Brett Myers has recovered from a strained right shoulder.

Myers threw one inning in a rehabilitation appearance yesterday for single-A Clearwater. He threw 11 pitches and walked one batter. He will pitch again Monday.

"One more for sure," Manuel said when asked how many more rehab appearances Myers needed. "Let's see how he does the next time out."

Myers has targeted Tuesday against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park as his return date.

"Once Brett comes back . . . that's pretty good," Manuel said. "I think that could work pretty good."

When Myers (1-0, 2.61 ERA in the bullpen) is back, the bullpen will include Gordon (1-1, 4.35), Alfonseca (3-1, 3.82), Ryan Madson (1-2, 3.38), Mesa (0-1, 3.78), Romero (0-0, 1.50) and Mike Zagurski (1-0, 4.15).

The bullpen ranks 14th in the National League with a 4.68 ERA, but those seven pitchers combine for a 3.50 ERA, which would rank third in the league.

Of course, Gordon's health is tenuous, and there's no way to be certain Mesa and Romero can keep up what they have been doing, although Manuel said a steady diet of work has helped Mesa and Romero, both of whom the Phillies signed after teams released them.

They agree.

"That's been the key my whole career," Mesa said. "If I don't pitch, it's tough. That's my problem everywhere. I have to pitch. I like it here. That's the way it is. You want an opportunity to pitch to see how you can do."

"I'm comfortable," Romero said. "I'm having fun right now, and that's key. But I like this bullpen. Any time you have veterans and talented young guys, it's a good combination."

Asked whether he would like to hit at cavernous Petco Park for 81 games a season, Manuel said yes. "Big deal," he said. "You hit it, you get it." It's safe to say that Phillies pitchers would prefer to pitch here rather than at Citizens Bank Park. . . . A three-game suspension for Padres catcher

Josh Bard

was reduced to two games, and he began serving it Thursday night. Bard was suspended for a May 31 confrontation with umpires at Pittsburgh.

- Todd Zolecki